Molding/Trim Concealed Slide-On system

ABSTRACT

A concealed slide-on molding/trim attachment method reduces the work effort and materials involved to refinish walls, ceilings, or anywhere molding/trim, henceforth called “trim”, is attached using the conventional nailing method. When removing the existing trim, this invention eliminates the damage to the trim, walls, and ceilings, along with the issues previously associated with the current fastening process. With this invention, refinishing or renovation of the trim, walls, ceilings or any other associated building components can be completed without damage to surrounding surfaces or the existing trim, making the trim reusable. This is a simple way to attach and detach the trim when compared to the current nailing method or use of other fasteners. During initial construction, this invention also reduces time and man-hours for installation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/752,869 filed May 30, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention addresses the methods and devices in buildings for attachment and removal of the trim found both internally and externally such as, but not limited to, windows, doors, ceiling trim, and baseboard. The benefits of refinishing or renovation of walls, ceilings, surrounding areas, or the trim without damage from removal is the prime motivation of the present invention.

The molding or trim has historically been attached to buildings by use of nails or other hard fasteners and has remained in use through modern time. For renovation, remodeling, or refinishing, the permanence of these methods requires a significant amount of time, effort, and expense to remove resulting in damage to the trim and the surrounding surfaces. Unless the trim is removed, or at least loosened, a simple task such as repainting an adjacent surface would result in uneven lines between the trim and the surface, with the paint either not meeting the trim or overlapping the trim. If removal is done several times, the trim would require replacement due to the damage incurred from multiple removal attempts and the adjacent surfaces would have to be patched several times, possibly in multiple places, or the entire surface would have to be replaced.

Over the years, many tools have been developed to address these problems/issues but none have remained in the marketplace simply because they did not work well enough. Some have worked better than others, such as masking tape but it too has it's issues. Straight lines between the trim and the adjacent surface is strictly dependent upon the individual applying the tape. Once used, the tape then has to be removed and disposed of, this is added cost and time.

As detailed above, there is a need for a simple method of attachment and removal that securely mounts the trim to the adjacent surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention utilizes an optional thin strip of metal attached to the mounting surface by tapered head screws. This metal strip is available for anyone to use for proper alignment of the attaching screws. These screws can be placed at 8 inch intervals through 1 inch slots in the metal and screwed into the mounting surface to a predetermined depth. The 8 inch mounting intervals are located so wall studs can be located and the screws can go through the mounting surface into the stud beneath the mounting surface for secure attachment. On the backside of the trim are keyhole mounting brackets attached at 8 to 16 inch intervals for attachment to the mounting screws. The entire length of the trim is to be placed over the mounting screw heads into the large hole in the keyhole bracket, and then slid into place to securely locate the trim in position. This will be repeated until all the trim is positioned along the base of the wall, around windows and/or doors, chair rails, etcetera. For molding/trim where there are four pieces to be attached to a surface, if each piece has a 45 degree angle cut to mate with the associated trim, one trim piece must have the capability of being pushed onto the mounting screws and heads in the opposite direction of the other three. For ease of attachment, this piece should be the bottom trim piece and attached in a downward motion, moving away from the window, so that children cannot easily remove the trim from it's mounted position. The other three pieces should be attached by moving the trim towards the window allowing the 45 degree angle on the ends to mate to the already attached pieces. If a side trim piece is to be mounted close to another wall or something protruding from the wall, then this piece should be mounted pushing from the window outwards. This, of course, makes it impossible to attach the bottom molding/trim as described above so allowances must be given and the bottom piece has to be attached by pushing the molding/trim upwards towards the window.

Removal of the trim is simply performed by reversing the attachment method. Push any trim piece so that the large keyhole holes are located over the screw heads in the mounting surface and lift off.

A better understanding of this present invention, along with the advantages, features, and aspects it offers, will become obvious when viewing the drawings that follow along with each description and listed claims.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: An exploded view of the keyhole quick release molding/trim identifying each component and the locational relationship of each. Each item is defined with a number, 1 through 7, inside a balloon, with a leader line from the item to the balloon, and each item is listed here. As shown, Item 1 is the Trim, Item 2 is the Keyhole Clip, and Item 3 are the Small Wood Screws that attach the Keyhole Clip to the underside of the Trim. Item 4 are the Large Attaching Wood Screws that attach the Wall Mounting Strip to the wall and utilizes it's head to attach the Trim to the wall. Item 5 is the Wall Mounting Strip. Item 6 is an optional replacement strip for Item 2, the Keyhole Clip. Item 7 is another optional replacement strip for Item 2, the Keyhole Clip. Both items 6 and 7 are mountable to the underside of the molding/trim utilizing the exact same screw locations as found on the Keyhole Clip.

FIG. 2: A detailed view of Item 1, the Trim, from FIG. 1 with the Trim prepared to receive Item 2, the Keyhole Clip.

FIG. 3: This is a detailed, exploded view of Item 2, the Keyhole Clip and how it mounts to the underside of Item 1, the Trim.

FIG. 4 is a detailed, exploded view of Item 3, two (2) Small Wood Screws, being utilized to attach the Item 2, the Keyhole Clip to the underside of Item 1, the Trim.

FIG. 5 is a detailed, exploded view of the Wall Mounting Strip, Item 4, and placement for easy alignment of the Trim to the area for which it will be utilized.

FIG. 6: This is a detailed exploded view of Item 5, the Large Attaching Wood Screws, showing how these screws attach the Wall Mounting Strip and how the heads will be used to anchor the Trim through the Keyhole Clip. Note: the alignment of these screws is critical to the Trim's alignment to any associated wall component. Also, the protruding distance of the heads of these screws is critical to keeping the Trim placed tightly against the wall.

FIG. 7: This is Option A, a detailed, exploded view of Item 6, the Keyhole Strip, to be utilized in lieu of Item 2, the Keyhole Clip.

FIG. 8: This is Option B, a detailed view of Item 7, the Perpendicular Keyhole Strip to be utilized where space is limited and the Trim has to be mounted 90° from the above shown method to allow for mounting to the wall.

FIG. 9: A section view of the assembly with the components in their proper positions and identified with their Bill-of-Material numbers. Also identified are the building drywall and wood wall studs.

THE INVENTION'S DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is not to be understood as a limiting factor but used as a purpose for illustrating the invention's general principles. This description is thought to be most accurate to describe the invention's advantages and simplicity when compared to all existing options for attaching and removing trim to and from a new or existing building surface.

This quick release system for the trim reduces time, materials, and effort when a building is under initial construction or renovation of an existing building as applied to, but not limited to, the trim, walls, ceilings and along the base of walls at the intersection of flooring. Conventional methods used today are permanent and especially difficult and messy when the building owner wishes to remodel or simply re-paint walls and ceilings. The embodiment of this invention provides an easy, clean method for attaching and removal of said trim for renovation or any and all other reasons. And, it is without the current issues with the trim and mating surfaces such as damaged or destroyed trim and mating surfaces. Included as part of this invention is the following trim ideas: with this invention, the trim can now be applied with a seasonal or special flare, the standard trim can easily be removed and replaced with a Thanksgiving, Christmas with embedded lighting for around windows and doors on interior trim, birthday (for boys or girls), Easter, or even trim out a room to a child's preference and more. For example: automobiles, trains, dolls, et cetera. This can be done with both new installations or remodeling an existing building.

This system has a single metal strip, Item 4, attached to a building surface, such as a wall, utilizing the Large Attaching Wood Screws to secure the metal strip. The heads of these Large Attaching Wood Screws are positioned to allow the underside of the trim be placed over each screw head simultaneously and the trim is then slid onto the screw heads to securely attach the trim in place onto the surface. In this manner, once the metal strip, Item 4, is attached to the building's surface, no tools, standard or special, are required to remove or re-attach the trim.

Each metal strip has a screw clearance hole spaced either every six (6) inches or every eight (8) inches, depending on the building's requirements. The trim mounting hardware is also designed to accommodate the six or eight inch spacing. This spacing allows for buildings with twelve (12) or sixteen (16) inch stud spacing.

This design is such that the keyhole slot can be located on the underside of the trim or on the face of the mating surface. The keyhole slot attached to the underside of the trim will be offered as standard with the keyhole slot mounted to the mating surface offered as optional. When the customer purchases the trim, they have to make the choice of one or the other because it will come from the outlet (the place selling this invention) ready to mount with minimum effort.

To properly position the trim, the only tools needed are a pencil, a tape measure, a straight edge, a level, and a standard screwdriver. For positioning the trim around other items such as windows and doors, dimensional information and instructions will be provided to ease the effort.

Item 5, the Large Attaching Wood Screws, will be provided with a shoulder to properly set the depth engaged into the wall. This provides the proper amount of screw head protruding from the wall for the trim to fit tightly, but not too tightly, against the wall. This shoulder also allows Item 4, the Wall Mounting Strip, to be securely attached to the building surface. It also eliminates the guess work of screw head depth associated with screws without the shoulder. See FIG. 6 for a view of this screw. Dimensional data is not supplied.

Although the above focuses on simplification of attaching trim, or similar building materials, to building surfaces, this concept, with it's flexibility, could be expanded for other uses such as attaching pictures, wall décor, or other similar items.

Summary: The foregoing is the exemplary embodiment of this invention which includes four major components for mounting the various designed trim pieces. Optional components included in this invention are the two metal strips that contain the keyhole slots, one where the slots are positioned the same as with the keyhole clips and the second where the keyhole slots are positioned 90 degrees from the aforementioned keyhole clips and the keyhole metal strip. Also included in this invention is the various seasonal or special occasion designs for the trim. This would include, but not limited to, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, a child's birthday, et cetera. To be included are instructions along with a pictorial view of how the components are to be assembled.

Without departing from the above scope and spirit of this invention, modifications may be made for simplification, cost savings, and potentially any other issues that may arise. As set forth, the foregoing embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, the following claims. 

1. This quick release system comprises of: a.) keyhole metal clip attached to the underside of a wood trim piece. b.) a shouldered, attaching large wood screw for positioning the wall mounted metal strip. The screw attaches the metal strip and its head is utilized to secure and position the trim to the building surface. c.) a small wood screw for attaching the keyhole clip or metal strip to the underside of the trim. d.) a wall mounting metal strip for ease of positioning the large attaching metal screws. e.) an optional keyhole metal strip for use in place of the keyhole metal clip mentioned in a.) above. f.) an optional keyhole metal strip with the keyholes re-positioned 90 degrees for mounting the trim in tight places whereas the standard keyhole position will not allow the proper mounting of the trim. This is a replacement for both a.) and e.) above.
 2. The above described arrangement is preferred whereas the keyhole clip or strips of a.) e.) and f.) of claim 1.) are attached to the underside of the trim, utilizing the small wood screws.
 3. The wall mounting metal strip is attached to the building surface using the shouldered attaching large wood screws. This metal strip is designed for ease in locating the shouldered large attaching wood screws to properly mate to the keyholes on the underside of the trim as described in claim 2.) above.
 4. Options to the above described arrangement will be available as described herein: a.) the keyhole clip, 1.a.) above, is mounted to the building surface, b.) or the optional keyhole metal strip, 1.e.) above, is mounted to the building surface, c.) or the optional keyhole metal strip with re-positioned 90 degree keyholes, 1.f.) above, is mounted to the building surface, d.) a modified shouldered attaching large wood screw, 1.b.), above is attached to the underside of the trim. e.) the wall mounting metal strip, 1.d.), is mounted on the underside of the trim using the modified shouldered attaching large wood screw, 1.b.) above. 